4. Back ground
In the annals of history, polo (Chugan as it is known in Persian)
emerged from Persia in 600BC in the Aryan tribes of Central Asia.
Northern area of Pakistan was the first place where the game
arrived and took the present shape. As the geography of the game
stretched, Abbasid Caliph Haroon-ur-Rashid was the first Muslim
emperor to play Polo in the 9th Century. A 10th century poet
Firdosi has mentioned polo in his famous epic Shahnama. The
imperial gazetteer of india published in 1881 by Sir William Wilson
Hunter records the death of Sultan Qutubuddin Aibak in 1206 after
falling from his horse
5. Back ground
Later on Mughal empires made it a royal pastime and Baber
himself was a very good Polo Player. Presently, it is played in
every nook of the world with international standards but the one
played in northern Pakistan is the most primitive form.
It is one of the most expensive games in the world. To pet a horse
needs a lot of resources. Since very long, people of Chitral and
Gilgit-Baltistan have been interested in horses and most
households in a village used to keep them.
6. The style and rules of this crude form of polo is so captivating that
it doesn’t look like a game; rather it is a tug of war between the
two groups of people wearing different colors of shirts. Horse to
horse collisions, locked sticks and dangerously falling players add
to the thrill of adventurists. There are apparently no rules and
offences and foul play is abstained on ethical basis. This old form
of playing Polo is preserved so beautifully through centuries by
the people of this region.
7. Very famous
personality
which comes to
my mind when
ever I think
about the Free
style polo is
BULBUL JAN
8. Bulbul Jan, Also known as the
king of polo
He lives in a house full of trophies, certificates, photographs
with celebrities and dignitaries and was recently awarded
the Sitara-e-Imtiaz from Governer Gilgit Baltistan on
behalve of President of Pakistan
9. Local says
locals say
that Jan is
perhaps
one of the
most
respected
people in
Gilgit
Baltistan
10.
11. At just 50 years of age, he has achieved
more than what many achieve in a lifetime.
Jan enjoyed success on and off the field.
12. PRESIDENT GILGIT POLO ASOOCIATION
PRESIDENT GILGIT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT GILGIT HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
13.
14. Bulbul jan was born at gilgit on 1956
His father was a Doctor
Bulbul jan have five brothers and one sister
Has five daughters and three sons.
Childhood Dream,to become an army officer.
16. Bulbul jan started his sports career as a football and
hockey player.
Due to foot injury in football match at lahore against
Balochistan he resigned from football and was
welcomed by free style polo.
He played, first polo match of his career for babar
club in 1979 and joined Northern Areas Public Works
Department (NAPWD) POLO team in 1981.
In 1984 he joined NLI polo team on the request of
force commandant Gilgit.
17. 1981 to 1984
80’s were considred as the lucky years of his career
Because
In the plate form of NAPWD Bulbul Jan showed his
Charismatic Qualities in free style polo .
1981 to 84 bulbul jan played very important role in
winning polo matches against
different teams
18. 1984 t0 2004
In 1984 he was requested by force camandant to join
Northern Light Infantry (NLI ) polo team.
He was captain of team for 20 years.
During his 20 years career, goals were set on the skies
and achieved , records were broken and history was
made.
made a record of four regular goals againts Chitral in
final match.
19. ACHIEVEMENT
Bulbul jan became Team Captain of NLI team and took it to the
new Horizons which one could not even imagine.
Bulbul jan lead the NLI team a long period of 20 years.
The most successful team captain in the history of free
style polo
Under his captaincy NLI team unbeaten 17 years
Jash-e-baharah Polo festival in Gilgit.
Record of 23 goals against police team in Anti Narcotics
polo cup.
Made a record of four regular goals in againts Chitral in
final match.
Made a record of 3 goals through Direct hit shorts(Tholki) in
shandur polo festival.
20. ACHIEVEMENT
He was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2013.
He was also awarded the National youth award in 2010.
In 1998 after winning shandur polo festival, member of
Garman polo association awarded bulbul, the best polo player.
The world admired his qualities and showed great affection by
him has been awarded the title of “KING OF FREE STYLE
POLO”.
I am not much of a believer of individual achievements. I’ve
always been a part of a team. So, whatever I’ve achieved so far,
the credit goes to my team.
21. National And International
Media
THE role of electronic and print media is much more important
now a days.
National and International media groups specially
BBC,CNN,AL JAZEERA,PTV,VOICE OF AMERICA,ATV,CHINA
INTERNATIONAL, Khaleej times , held many interviews with
him. documentaries were made on bulbul jan’s life and free style
polo.
Different tourist groups from France , Germany , China ,
Austria , aslo made on documentaries about jan’s Career
22. National and international tours
Because of his popularity Bulbul jan Represents Gilgit baltistan at
International level.
In July 1998 he went to Dubai on the invitation of Khaleej
Times media group.
In 2002 and 2003 bulbul jan and his team played free style polo
match in lahore on the invitation of president of pakistan
Mr.Perveez Mushraf.
23. His eldest son Mushtaq
Ahmed followed the foot steps
of his father and chose polo as a
carrer.
He played polo for 10 years.
During his career he achieved
more than what he had to.
Unfortunatelly he died in the
age of 29 (RIP).
24. His best companion was truc a
Black tall horse played a very
important role in Jan’s carrer.
Truc was not only a horse but
also a friend for 17 years.
The speed and strenght of truc
with the magic of jan’s hands
were indeed winning
combinations.
The history and carrer of bulbul
jan is incomplete without truc.
Truc was named as “Black
magic”.